Add a new page

The Empire of the Silver Stars is currently ruled by a young boy, although a great deal of power is wielded on his behalf by his mother, the Dowager Emperess, who also serves as his spokesperson. As the Emperor is viewed as a deity, few (if any) are honoured with hearing his own voice or seeing him in the flesh. When in public, the Emperor has servants to convey his requests or commands and is shrouded in a floor length cloth of gold.

Historical Emperor (Japan) (OOC)

The role of the emperor of Japan has historically alternated between that of a supreme-rank cleric with largely symbolic powers and that of an actual imperial ruler. Until 1945, the Japanese monarchs had always been, officially, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. However, contrary to Western monarchs, the role had rarely been assumed on the field since the establishment of the first shogunate. Japanese emperors have nearly always been controlled by external political forces, to varying degrees.

Over a thousand years ago, a tradition started that an emperor should ascend relatively young. A dynast who had passed his toddler years was regarded suitable and old enough. Reaching the age of legal majority was not a requirement. Thus, a multitude of Japanese emperors have ascended as children, as young as 6 or 8 years old. The high-priestly duties were deemed possible for a walking child. A reign of around ten years was regarded a sufficient service. Being a child was apparently a fine property, to endure tedious duties and to tolerate subjugation to political power-brokers, as well as sometimes to cloak the real powerful members of the imperial dynasty. Almost all Japanese empresses and dozens of emperors abdicated, and lived the rest of their lives in pampered retirement, wielding influence behind the scenes. Several emperors abdicated to their entitled retirement while still in their teens.

The current emperor on the throne is typically referred to by the title Tennō Heika ( lit. "His Majesty the Emperor") or Kinjō Heika (lit. "his current majesty") when speaking Japanese.

Historical Emperor (China) (OOC)

The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning since the founding of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. When referred to as the Son of Heaven (tiānzì), a title created no later than Shang Dynasty, the Emperor was recognized as the ruler of "All under heaven" (i.e., the world).

Pre-imperial rulers of the Zhou dynasty bore the title of the Son of Heaven. The Qin founder did not employ this title, perhaps as it implied submission to a supreme divine authority; but the title was restored under the Han dynasty and employed thereafter for all rulers of China. As the descendant and representative of Heaven on Earth, he had absolute power over all matters, big or small, under Heaven. His mandate to rule was regarded as divine and predestined. In contrast to modern international relationships, the Emperor of China was seen in East Asia not merely as the head of one nation-state among many, but also as the sole and supreme overlord of the entire civilized world.

The emperor's words were considered sacred edicts, and his written proclamations "directives from above". In theory, the emperor's orders were to be obeyed immediately. He was elevated above all commoners, nobility, and members of the imperial family. Addresses to the emperor were always to be formal and self-deprecatory, even by the closest of family members.

The Emperor's position, unless deposed in a rebellion, is always hereditary usually by agnatic primogeniture. As a result, there are many cases where a child Emperor ascends the throne when his father dies. When this occurs, the Empress Dowager, or the Emperor's mother, is in a position of significant power. In fact, the vast majority of female rulers during the entirety of Chinese Imperial history have come to power through ruling as regents on behalf of their sons. If the Empress Dowager is too weak to assume power, court officials usually seize control. The presence of eunuchs in the court is also important in the power structure, as the Emperor usually relied on a few of them as confidants, which gave them access to many court documents. There are also situations wherein other members of the nobility seized power as regents

Unlike, for example, the Japanese monarchy, Chinese political theory allowed for a change in the ruling house. This was based on the concept of the Confucian "Mandate of Heaven". The theory behind this was that the Chinese emperor acted as the "Son of Heaven" and held a mandate to rule over everyone else in the world; but only as long as he served the people well. If the quality of rule became questionable due to repeated natural disasters such as flood or famine, or for other reasons, then rebellion was justified. This important concept legitimized the dynastic cycle or the change of dynasties. It was moral integrity and benevolent leadership that determined the holder of the "Mandate of Heaven." This Sinocentric concept, historians note, was one of the key reasons why imperial China in many ways had the most efficient system of government in ancient times.

As the emperor had, by law, an absolute position not to be challenged by anyone else, his subjects were to show the utmost respect in his presence, whether in direct conversation or otherwise. In a conversation with the emperor, it was considered a crime to compare oneself to the emperor in any way. It was taboo to refer to the emperor by his given name, even if it came from his own mother, who instead was to use Huangdi (Emperor), or simply Er ("son"). The emperor was never to be addressed as you. Anyone who spoke to the emperor was to address him as Bixia, corresponding to "Your Imperial Majesty", Huang Shang (lit. Emperor Above or Emperor Highness), tian zi (lit. the Son of Heaven ), or Sheng Shang (lit. the Divine Above or the Holy Highness). Servants often addressed the emperor as Wan Sui Ye (lit. Lord of Ten thousand years). The emperor referred to himself as Zhen, translated into the royal "We", in front of his subjects, a practice reserved solely for the emperor.